Head-gear for supporting lights.



D. E. TAYLOR.

HEAD GEAR FOR SUPPORTING LIGHTS.

APPLIOATION FILED 001230, 1908.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

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DANIEL EVERETT TAYLOR, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

HEAD-GEAR FOR SUPPORTING LIGHTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

Application filed October 30, 1908. Serial No. 460,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL EVERETT TAY- LOR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Willimantic, in the county of Windham and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Head-Gear for Supporting Lights, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in head gear for use by surgeons, dentists and opticians, and designed to support an electric light and deliver the rays there: from directly upon the object under inspection. Various constructions have been proposed for accomplishing this purpose, but my improved device differs from these in its simplicity of construction and ease of adjustment.

The main feature of my invention involves a spring metal band, adapted to extend over the head from the front to the back, and be retained in position by resilient engagement with the forehead and the back of the head.

Another feature of my invention involves Figure 1 is a perspective view of a de-' vice constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the universal joint connecting means for supporting the light from the head gear; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing my improved device in place.

In the specific construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a spring steel band 10, so curved as to adapt it to resiliently engage with the forehead and the back of the head when the device is in place. At the front end of the band I provide a transversely-extending plate 11, rigid with the band and adapted to engage with the forehead. At the rear end of the band I provide a second plate 12, curved for engagement with the back of the head but adjustable longitudinally of the band, so as to fit the device to heads of different sizes. The plate 12 is preferably provided with two slots 13, through each of which the band extends, so that no separate adjusting screw or retaining means need be employed. The plate fits sufficiently tight on the band, so that when once adjusted longitudinally of the band to the proper position it is automatically held-there by frictional engagement. The ends of the plate 1.2 are prefer ably provided with contact projections 1% extending toward the head and serving to more effectively hold the device in position.

The light is supported atthe front end of the band adjacent the intersection of the band with the transverse plate 11, and the supporting means is so constructed as to facilitate the adjustment of the light and of the throwing of the lights rays in any direc tion desired. The band carries an out- Wardly-extending stud 15 terminating in a ball or knob 16, and the casing 17 of the electric light carries a projection or bar 18 also terminating in a ball or knob 19. For connecting the knobs of the two projections I employ two plates 20 and 21, each having a cavity in one surface thereof and adjacent to each end. These cavities are curved to fit the outer surface of the knobs, and intermediate the two cavities the two plates are held together by a screw 22 extending freely through one plate and having threaded engagement with the other. At one end of the screw is a milled head 23, by means of which the screw may be readily adjusted to bind the plates against the knobs with great or less pressure. The two plates may be rotated about the knob 16 so as to extend in any direction therefrom, and the lamp casing with its projection 18 and knob 19 may be extended in any direction from the plates 20 and 21, so that a perfect universal joint is formed, and the lights rays may be directed upon any object desired. With the light in the proper position the screw 22 may be tightened, so as to lock the plates in engagement with both of the knobs and hold all of the parts in the desired relative positions. A single adjusting screw serves for controlling and locking both of the ball and socket joints, formed by the plates and knobs.

The projection or bar 18 preferably extends outwardly at substantially right angles to the electric light casing, and the rear end of the casing faces toward the band 10. The light is connected with an electric wire 24: and this wire is held to the band 10 by suitable eyelets or rings 25 carried by the band. The band thus serves not only to resiliently clamp the light to the head but it also serves to support the electric wire and keep it behind the operator and out of his way.

The device may be very readily and quickly secured in position as there are no straps, bands or buckles to require attention. The operator can place the device on his head With one hand and properly adjust it, whereas in constructions in which a leather or cloth band is employed it is necessary to use both hands to fasten the buckle. The device cannot possibly slip down over the eyes, as may happen when a band is employed for encircling the head, and when the device is in place it cannot very readily be accidentally dislodged. The screw 22 may be left sufficiently loose so that the position of the lamp may be adjusted in respect to. the band without loosening or tightening the screw, so that only one hand need be used in the-entire operation of securing the an outwardly-extending stud carried thcreby, each of said studs terminating in balls or knobs, oppositely-disposed plates each having a cavity or recess adjacent each end thereof for engagement with said balls or knobs, and a screw for adjusting the pressure of said plates upon said balls or knobs.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL EVERETT TAYLOR.

Titnesses ax. A. AImoLI), Gnome A. Biunrmrr'r. 

